Mahakumbh 2025: 7 facts about Naga Sadhus that have forever amused people

Naga Sadhus, the men who are smeared in ash, have dreadlocks the size of their height, and the ones who are believed to feast on the dead, have always been a topic of intrigue and conversation. They are the ascetics who left everything behind and started their life again to attain spiritual enlightenment. Naga Sadhus are the protectors of temples, a spectacle in the Maha Kumbhs, and men who dedicate their lives to religion. And so, here we mention 7 awe-inspiring facts about the Naga Sadhus.

One of the most unique attributes that help identify a Naga Sadhu is that they do not wear any clothes and remaining naked is a part of their identity. This nakedness is a symbol of their detachment from the material, something that is extremely important and dear to humans in the material world, and renouncing the clothes is a way of renouncing the material world. To protect themselves from the cold, or wind, or the heat, they smear ‘bhasm’ all over their body, which is basically ash that is considered holy and pure.

Becoming a Naga Sadhu is not a casual decision at all, but rather a hard, challenging journey that makes people give away years and years of their life. Most people say and believe that becoming a Naga Sadhu can easily take over 10 years, and these 10 years are spent in celibacy, meditation, and austerity.

Unlike most Hindus, who are cremated after death, Naga Sadhus have a different way to give up life and their human bodies. It is believed that when a Naga Sadhu is ready to give up his life, their bodies are just buried under Earth while they sit in a meditative position. Another practice that many follow is that their body is immersed in a holy river, as is, usually the Ganga as it is believed to go straight to heaven then on.

Pind Daan is a ritual that Hindus do to honour their ancestors who have passed, and is only done after their death to enable them to have a smooth transition into the afterlife. But, the Naga Sadhus, when they are initiated into the practice, perform their own Pind Daan, while alive and living. Why? It is believed that being a Naga Sadhu is a whole new birth of a person, and the Pind Daan is a symbol of the end of their life on material Earth.

Another unique fact about the Naga Sadhus is that they are not just spiritual people who have given up on material riches and live a life of celibacy, they are also warriors, coming from a clan who fiercely protected the Hindu temples and people from invaders and violence. Historically, they were trained in martial arts and weaponry to protect temples and sacred lands and they used to learn how to fight with swords, tridents, and other weapons.

Holi is a festival of colours and fun. People buy and play with bright colours, from the eccentric yellows to the cheerful pinks, and do so with love and energy. But, the Naga Sadhus do not play with colour, they play with ash! The Masaan Holi is played with bhasm, the ash from the funeral pyres, and the ash is smeared on other Naga Sadhus in play. This play with the sacred ash is an honour to Lord Shiva, who is said to have played Masaan holi first for and with the ascetics who gave up on worldly joys.

Naga Sadhus are organised into groups known as ‘akhadas’ which are basically monastic orders. These akhadas give most of them training and initiate them into the spiritual journey. Each akhada has its own traditions, leaders, and practices, but their goal is common - preserving culture, traditions, and philosophies.